Grooved brain coral

Diploria labyrinthiformis

Grooved brain coral is a reef-building coral with winding valleys that resemble the folds of a brain. Individual polyps live in connected ridges and help build a hard limestone colony.

Not a fish · an aquatic neighbor

Water

Saltwater

Warm western Atlantic coral reefs and hard reef substrates.

Temperature

Range not established

No dependable species-specific wild temperature range was located.

Size

Colonies can reach about 2 m (6.6 ft) across

A large colony can be about as wide as a round dining table.

Lifespan

Not established in the wild

Life expectancy varies with place, conditions, and what scientists have been able to observe.

01 · Signature adaptation

What does it do?

The colony remains attached to the reef while its polyps extend feeding tentacles, usually at night. Its hard skeleton grows slowly and provides shelter and surface for other reef life.

Its superpowerIts interconnected valley-and-ridge structure lets many polyps share one massive skeleton.

02 · Home coordinates

Where does it live?

Western Atlantic reefs, including the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and Bahamas.

Regions: Caribbean Sea · Western Atlantic Ocean · Gulf of Mexico · Bahamas

03 · The menu

What does it eat?

Its polyps catch small food particles and receive additional energy from photosynthetic algae.

Mixotroph: plankton, sugars from symbiotic algae.

04 · Remember this

Two wow facts

Only Diploria species

Diploria is a monotypic genus, meaning Diploria labyrinthiformis is its only living species.

Sources [1]

Brain-like valleys

Deep, connected valleys give the colony its brain-like appearance.

Sources [1]